Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-04
LAcRANDE cHARTREusE.

Il 49,
Queen vIctoria's visit to the Cradle oe
the Carthustan Order.
It is quite true that the foot OF an
ordinary woman, or OF an ordinary
lady, has never crossed the threshold
Of the entrance gate Of the Grande
Chartreuse; but during the last eight
hundred years great number of Queens
haye visited and dined in the grand old
monastery. The daughter and sue
cessor of the renowned Gustavus
Adolphus was one Of them; Christina
of Sweden was received into it just a
short time before she abdicated the
crown and abjured Professionalism and
became fervent child of the Catholic
church. No rule, therefore. was vio-
lated: no custom was mOmentarily for
gotten; no exception was made in IA
vor Of her Brittanic Majesty. Queen
Victoria had perfectly legal right to
be admitted into the old cloist-
ers, and to be conducted through
all the cells and to be
shown every thing which she wished
to see from the top to the bottom OF
the aged pile. But to he received into
clustered converts Kings must be
actually reigning; and to be admitted
into the monasteries of the same kind
Queens must be actually reigning; SO
taat were her Majesty of England to
ablicate tomorrow and knock just the
next day at the old gate of La Grando
Chartreuse, or at that of any of the
houses of the order, she would not be
allowed to cross the threshold of any
of them. When either Kings or Queens
cease to reign they fall into the cate
CORY of private persons. and they are
are rigidly excluded. Such is the law.
Her Majesty remained in the mon
astery about four hours. She did not
dine, because no notice Of her visit had
been sent beforehand to the Father
preparing dinner for the royal party.
But the modest Queen partook very
heartily of a collation.. which was COM
posed of chocolate. biscuits. jellies and
confectioneries Of various kinds. She
did more than that. She inquired OF
the reverend father il any of her good
children from any of the three king
doms were among his children OF the
Grande Chartreuse; and, having
amiable Englishman actually in the
community. she at once expressed
strong wish to visit him in his own
little cell. q do not know the family
name of the young man, but he is a
convert and the SON of an English
Protestant clergyman Her Majesty's
wish was forthwith gratified. The
Father General was her pilot through
the obscure windings of the cloisters-
The young SON of st. Bruno received
his sovereign with great ease. modesty
and politeness. The good Queen was
quite charmed. She sat down upon an
old straw chair close by him and
chatted with him materially for
nearly half an hour. She pious-
ly recommended both herself and
her faithful subjects to his good pray
ers; and she was SO highly pleased
with his edifying conversation that
she went the length Of requesting him
to give her little souvenir which
would enable her after her return to
England to recall to her mind the
pleasure she derived from her visit to
him and the Grand Chartreuse. He
| was the first English clustered monk
to whom her Majesty had ever opened
her royal lips. The young son of St
Bruno at once presented to her a small
silver crucifx Of very ancient date and
very fine workmanship. It was the
only thing of any value that he had in
in his cell. The Queen did not kiss
the image Of her crueified Redeemer.
but she gracefully accepted it placed
it carefully in one Of her pockets. very
affectionately babe farewell to tho
young convert and in q very short
time afterward she departed from the
venerable cradle of the Carthusian or.
der. Pail Mall Gazette.